NEWARK – Delaware's most experienced player has also been among the Blue Hens' most unfortunate.

But Jake Giusti has one more chance, and few likely welcomed the onset of preseason football camp more than the fifth-year senior safety Monday.

Giusti's career has been periodically undermined by the knee injury he suffered in the 2010 NCAA championship game loss to Eastern Washington, when he was a true freshman. He is the only Blue Hen to have played in the postseason, and now he is determined to lead Delaware back.

While Giusti has seen action in every season since, his 2013 campaign was cut short after three games, which allowed him to receive a medical waiver and return this year.

"I'm healthy, I'm in condition," Giusti said after Delaware's first practice. "It's the best I've felt in a while, just being fit. My cardio is much better than last year, when I was trying to work through some problems in camp. This year I'm perfectly healthy and it just feels good to be out here with everybody."

His return is a positive sign for the Hens, said second-year coach Dave Brock, who still hasn't seen Giusti at his best.

"For me it's still new," Brock said. "He practiced some and wasn't able to make it through the games [in 2013] so he's really almost like a recruit for me. He hasn't practiced in either spring [2013 or 2014]. He's a confident kid. There's a little bit of an air about him. He carries himself the way you want to see it.''

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Offensive lineman Will Lewis (right) and the rest of the offensive line run through drills as the University of Delaware football team start their first practice Monday.
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Four years ago this month, as a true freshman, Giusti was immediately plunked into the No. 2 defense at cornerback as soon as camp opened. Coaches thought that highly of the Neptune Beach, Fla., resident's skills.

Giusti tore his ACL covering a second-half kickoff in the NCAA final. His absence became particularly impactful as Delaware let a 19-point lead vanish in a 20-19 loss to pass-happy Eastern Washington. Giusti's value as a sixth defensive back was apparent.

But the lessons of that season stay with Giusti now, and he hopes he can help influence his present-day teammates the way his 2010 comrades did him.

Since the advent of NCAA playoffs in 1973, Delaware has never gone four straight years without reaching the postseason, and this year's players have been particularly vocal about their determination to get back.

"I completely understand where they're coming from," Giusti said. "You definitely never want to go four years without making the playoffs. It takes every ounce of your body and your mind to make that happen."

In 39 career games, including 13 starts, Giusti has 108 tackles, including 78 solos and 2½ for lost yardage. He also has three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception.

"The guys, when I was a freshman, they told me, 'Look Juice, it's going to fly by, just watch. Don't take it for granted.'" Giusti said. "They were right. It's flown by. This is my last go-round. And I have not [taken it for granted]. I could have easily said 'OK, I'm done' after game two last year with my knee injury, but that was not the way I wanted to go out, especially with the teammates and everybody.

"It's a great group of guys I love to be with and to be able to play with them again, I couldn't pass that up. I am the seasoned vet."

Hen scratch

Recent Middletown High graduate Dennis Berger has joined the Hens as a walk-on wide receiver ... Trent Hurley connected with Michael Johnson for a 70-yard completion and Stephen Clark on a 50-yard hookup during a period where the first offense went up against the first defense ... Hens' first scrimmage is Saturday at 3:30 in Delaware Stadium.